The Modernist townhouse is part of a cluster of nine properties, including five homes originally designed by South African architect Ted Levy, Benjamin & Partners in the late 1960s. Externally, each of the existing houses is uniformly designed with subtle references to Cape Town’s coastal developments of the 50s and 60s. Since the 60s, their interiors have been sporadically renovated with most of them stripped of their Modernist character. Pine Heath is one of the last remaining townhouses to retain many of its original features.Advertisement Emerging architecture and interiors practice Studio Hagen Hall was briefed by the client to revive the five-storey terraced home, and to upgrade its overall energy efficiency and performance. The studio has redesigned its layout, making the entrance, kitchen and living areas more connected, as well as introducing storage into the communal spaces. An additional fourth guest bedroom suite-cum-gym has been created in the basement, turning the three-bed home into a five-bedroom one. A new office and sleeping pod have also been added into the eaves. Taking reference from the existing aged Parana pine of the home’s material palette, Studio Hagen Hall has worked hard to preserve these details, restoring the original central stairwell and timber-clad ceilings. In the bedrooms, old doors and openings have been replaced with floor-to-ceiling pocket doors, realigned to allow perfect views all the way through the house.Advertisement A tile grid continues throughout the house: window sills, joinery and spaces with angular changes are cut at 45-degree angles. Period details of the original Modernist kitchen have been accentuated for contemporary use: stippolyte glass cabinetry with a curved timber fascia now envelopes the kitchen. Custom mechanical louvre windows have been installed above the sink to provide privacy. All joinery has been faced with a veneer, stained to match the existing Parana pine. To upgrade the home’s thermal performance, single-glazed windows have all been replaced and insulation added internally to the key areas of concrete and brick structure to reduce cold-bridging. Trickle and adjustable air vents in each room provide fresh airflow via a centralised mechanical extract ventilation system. In addition, there are PVs, an air-source heat pump, underfloor heating and full roof insulation. Architect’s view Pine Heath is one of our favourite projects to date. Originally designed by Ted Levy, Benjamin & Partners in the late 1960s, the scheme epitomises our practice's commitment to enhancing and respecting post-war residential architecture, both in London and beyond. Our refurbishment and reconfiguration promote a rich and harmonious dialogue between the existing character and new interventions, introducing rationalised circulation routes while improving the functionality of communal and living spaces to elevate usability and comfort. We were careful to retain the Modernist character that makes the house so special, a core theme running through our projects. This approach results in a minimal yet warm and textured interior that seamlessly integrates with its new bespoke furnishings. We also prioritised significant upgrades to thermal performance and energy efficiency, implemented in a way that is virtually imperceptible. The rejuvenated home is now perfectly attuned to its new owners, Steve and Laura, through its sensitively crafted and contextual response which brings the property up to modern standards. Much like with Canyon House, we hope that as a studio we continue evolving in this scale of design, honouring our commitment to preserving and upgrading post-war typologies across the UK. Louis Hagen Hall, director, Studio Hagen Hall   Client’s view I have always admired Studio Hagen Hall's ability to combine classic post-war aesthetic principles with considered detailing and a rich application of materials to create something contemporary yet timeless. We briefed Louis and his team to help us restore and enhance our home’s original mid-century detail, while simultaneously making significant upgrades to the energy performance of a house that was largely unchanged since it was built. We wanted the look of a case-study house, with the performance of a passive one. The studio was quick to find the best possible layout, opening the property up internally to create new dramatic space with varied sightlines and considered datums throughout. Our new home is private and tranquil, yet bold and surprising. It’s a wonderful space for entertaining, and we look forward to growing into it as a family in the years to come. Steve Ackroyd, client   Project data Local authority Camden Council Location Hampstead Start on site date January 2023 Completion date November 2023 Gross internal floor area 224m² Gross (internal + external) floor area 284m² Architect Studio Hagen Hall Interior designer Studio Hagen Hall Form of contract  Traditional Client Steven Ackroyd and Laura Goulden Structural engineer Blue Engineering M&E consultant EPC Improvements Principal designer Studio Hagen Hall Approved building inspector All Building Control Main contractor Michal Madejczyk CAD software used VectorworksEnvironmental performance data Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2% Not supplied Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >5% Not supplied On-site energy generation 40% Annual mains water consumption 46 m³ per occupant Airtightness at 50pa Not supplied Heating and hot water load 26.7 kWh/m²/yr Overall area-weighted U-value 0.643 W/m²K Design life 60 years Embodied / whole-life carbon Not supplied Annual CO2 emissions Not supplied